Geoffrey Bradfield was born in East London, South Africa and initially worked with Rae Hoffenberg, and later Selwyn Levy and Brian White at Studio Henri VII and Guilds in the ‘70s. This was an iconic era in Johannesburg – the birth of contemporary interior design in South Africa – of which Bradfield was very much a part. He subsequently moved to New York joining Jay Spectre and eventually taking over the company. Today his work is globally renowned.

Bradfield continues to champion the importance of art – a virtuoso hand – using paintings not only as cultural accessories but as dramatic focal points, which impact directly on the interiors. Most of the canvases and sculptures are so large, and images so demanding that they draw one in irresistibly, upon this visual feast.

The design inspirations are aquatic and explore the depths of the ocean floor, evidenced by the living room rug resembling an abstracted Jean Cocteau seascape. The custom furnishings determine inviting islands of seating in the immense living space where the furniture is sensually shaped and finished in shades of soft grey and ice blue. The volume is anchored on either side by two major works in white metal: Valdes’ extraordinary flutter of butterflies and Otterness’ affectionate embrace.

The collection includes some of the most important contemporary atists of our time. Of special interest, the dining room showcases an organic exuberance of acrylic; a masterwork by Zaha Hadid, comprising interlocking dining tables. This Liquid Glacial design with its surface complexity and refraction emulates a vortex of water frozen in time.Bradfield surrounds these with 18 Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann chairs from the 1930s. To this wealth of modern refinement, he added fascination and intrigue with an exotic collection of museum quality 19th century Cloisonné. The effect of the mix is audacious and seamlessly pairs past with present.